Man charged with aggravated battery on officer

A 25-year-old Pensacola man was arrested Wednesday morning for injuring a Santa Rosa County sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop early Thanksgiving Day, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

STAFF REPORTS / Daily News

MILTON — A 25-year-old Pensacola man was arrested Wednesday morning for injuring a Santa Rosa County sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop early Thanksgiving Day, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Alex Barnsdale has been charged with high-speed fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery on an officer, driving while license suspended and property damage.

The deputy saw a white Dodge pickup truck speeding at about 100 mph on Dogwood Drive in Milton about 1:30 a.m. Nov. 22, according to Barnsdale’s arrest report. He followed the truck until it turned into an apartment complex and parked.

The driver then backed out of the parking space and the deputy got out his car and twice asked the driver to stop. The driver surged the pickup toward the deputy twice.

The second time, the deputy tried to get back in his vehicle. The truck hit the car and the door on the deputy’s leg, causing possible fractures and other injuries, a Sheriff’s Office news release said.

The pickup sped off, with the deputy following on foot to try and get a tag number, Barnsdale’s arrest report said. Other deputies tried to stop the pickup truck, which was speeding at more than 120 mph at times before they broke off the chase.

Video surveillance at the apartment complex captured the incident. The apartment complex also identified Barnsdale as the owner of the truck.

Messages sent by Barnsdale to a person via Facebook and cellphone texts also implicated him in the incident. A warrant was issued Tuesday and Barnsdale was found in Escambia County on Wednesday.

He was taken to the Santa Rosa County Jail. No bond had been set Wednesday night.